A new study shows hummingbird's fly backwards when they're startled and are easily confused by moving objects.

Researchers Benjamin Goller and Douglas Altshuler from the University of British Columbia conducted an experiment under lab conditions involving images of moving spirals and striped patterns projected on a surface just behind a bird feeder. 

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While trying to get closer to the feeder, the hummingbirds became confused and disoriented as they tried to sip the sweet nectar from the feeder that kept moving away from them. Goller observed the birds were indeed hungry and wanted to feed but were unable to adapt to the moving images.

When the birds seemed to have adapted to the moving images, however, they instantly fell back to their starting positions upon contact with the feeder. This shows something might have triggered the birds' "reset button," thereby confusing them all over again.

Still images, however, apparently didn't have the same confusing effect compared to the moving images.

Scientists believe hummingbirds possess precise flight patterns because they stabilize movement in their field of vision. If there's any disturbance in their spatial mapping and visual field even if it's just minor, this change can disorient them.

Goller adds the hummingbirds' brains are specifically wired to process any movement as long as it's in their field of vision. Small stimuli can overwhelm them and throw them off, however.

Hummingbirds flutter perfectly amidst their surroundings are even better at this than helicopters, the birds are 20 percent more efficient at hovering compared to helicopters.

A recent study confirms the birds' aerodynamic acrobatics amidst erratic airflow generates vortices that provide the boost they need to fly.

This study was published in in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

TagsHummingbirds' Precise Flight can be Ruined by Moving Objects, hummingbirds, hummingbirds hovering flying ability backward motion moving images objects